October 21, 2021

NSW Governor to deliver annual Goldring Lecture

Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley to reflect on social justice throughout her career

Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley AC QC will deliver the University of Wollongong’s (UOW) annual Goldring Lecture on Thursday (21 October).

Her Excellency will explore the topic of Advancing Social Justice Across the Decades: Commitment, Challenges and Changes during the online event, hosted by the School of Law. 

Prior to her appointment as Governor of New South Wales, Her Excellency enjoyed a long and distinguished career in the law at both a state and national level. In 1993, she was made a judge of the Federal Court of Australia, the first woman to sit exclusively in that Court, and in 1996, she was the first woman appointed to the New South Wales Court of Appeal.

In the Goldring Lecture, Her Excellency will reflect on the concept and practice of social justice, exploring a range of social justice challenges within our society and the approaches taken to address those challenges.

Now in its 11^th year, the Goldring Lecture honours Jack Goldring (1943-2009), the foundation Dean of UOW’s School of Law from 1990 to 1995.

Professor Goldring was subsequently appointed as Judge of the District Court of NSW and served as Commissioner of the Australian Law Reform Commission.

Her Excellency joins prominent figures from the field of law who have delivered the Goldring Lecture since it was launched in 2011, including Justice The Honorable Michael Kirby AC CMG, who was a friend of Professor Goldring; Her Excellency Professor The Honorable Kate Warner AM, Governor of Tasmania; and Professor John McMillan AO, former acting NSW Ombudsman.

As part of the annual Goldring Lecture, UOW’s School of Law also awards the Jack Goldring Memorial Scholarship, valued at $10,000, to a current law student who has demonstrated outstanding academic achievement and a strong commitment to social justice.

The Jack Goldring Memorial Fund was created to uphold Professor Goldring’s commitment to social justice, legal education and law reform, through an annual scholarship awarded to students who combine academic excellence with a demonstrated passion and commitment to social justice.

Australia’s largest regional law firm, RMB lawyers, helped launch the Jack Goldring Memorial Fund eight years ago along with more than 100 other UOW donors. RMB Lawyers have recently confirmed their ongoing support through their recommitment for another five years, an additional $25,000, marking their third substantial donation to the fund.

The fund has also received a generous bequest from the late Elisabeth Hilton, who spent close to three decades working for the University. Ms Hilton became a Fellow of the University of Wollongong in 2004, in recognition of her immense contribution to the University and the community.

Professor Goldring established the School of Law at UOW and was committed to ensuring a world-class legal education was available to all students, from all backgrounds.

He was passionate about social justice and equal opportunity into the law for Indigenous students and students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

In 2021, UOW’s School of Law is celebrating its 30^th Anniversary.  The Goldring Lecture stands as a permanent reminder of the key role that the University’s Foundation Dean of Law, Professor Jack Goldring, played in the establishment of the Law School, and as a testament to his ongoing influence and vision.